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People of Interest

Juneau Police Department

Questions Posted to "Ask a Dispatcher"

Q. What rights, if any, do citizens have about having their photos taken? What action can be taken if someone is photographing an individual who does not want to be photographed or video taped, especially in public areas like stores, gyms or schools?

Dear Juneau Resident,

Once you leave your house, you are pretty much out of luck for having an expectation of privacy when it comes to being photographed or videotaped. Basically if an average member of the public can see you, you don't own that view anymore and people can document how you look and what your are doing.

People who own private businesses that are open to the public, like grocery stores, can set their own rules but I have never heard of a prohibition against photographing or videotaping in a store, school, or gym. There are some limits, Alaska Statute 11.61.123 prohibits indecent viewing or photography even in a public place. If someone using a camera heads into the gym locker room and videotapes people's private body areas, they can get into deep doodoo.

In this tech age, it's best to assume that when you are in a public area, you are being recorded and you might see yourself on YouTube by the time you get home.